Thursday, February 28, 2013

Absolutely must applaud the creator of the WURM hat. So simple to knit, yet unique and extra warm and cozy. Wonderful fit. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. Used Madeline Tosh Chunky Thoreau yarn that I purchased at "Ewe 'n Me" in LaQuinta, CA. So worth every penny spent on this marvelous fibre.

What wonderful treats from the Grow Your Blog Party drawings awaited me upon my return from the sunny Palm Springs area. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and send a special heartfelt "thank you" to each of you for your gift. It will be fun to use all of them in my daily life. The stash Chris sent is beckoning me to make another lacebook or at minimum some large tags... such wonderful items that I could hardly believe it! I don't have access to such quality up here. Each gift inspires me to do something! And, I am still viewing all the sites I joined and sifting through ideas for my next projects. Again, I am so blessed to be the recipient of your beautiful gifts. [I was able to post a winning from Dagmar on Feb. 7 since I received her tags before I left.] Hugs from Alaska. Karen

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Returned Sunday at 5pm; worked yesterday and work today - THEN, I can hopefully play "catch up" with my Blog and posts that I need to put up on the lovely gifts from the Blog Party that were awaiting me. Meanwhile, wish to share the start of the WURM hat (on Ravelry) with the fabulous Madeline Tosh yarn purchased in Palm Springs while on holiday... gorgeous yarn.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Excited to complete the February Lacebook Collaborative Spread. This one is for Socrates' Illuminated Letters. (And, since I am away from home, this was actually sewn at Sox's home in Palm Springs... except for the picot beading on smoked moose hide which I did before traveling). The photos were processed through my iPad Apps (Snapseed and I/M). I may replace the photos when I return home; but, this will give you an idea of the contribution. I was so pleased with the final spread. Hope you enjoy, too.

I was able to complete the second Snuggle Sack set while visiting my sister and her husband; using mobile to upload and doing a little framing with iPad/iPhone apps. This set is for a local baby boy due March 4th.

Am working on lacebook spread that i just completed and anxious to share...

Thursday, February 7, 2013

It appears that I cannot get too far away from "Acorn to Oak" and a couple of Cheryl's projects. Since the blog party I have made four of the hand towels and just adore using them. I really "fell in love" with the Snuggle Sack Cheryl published which is a variation of Teresa Cole's "Owlie Sleep Sack" on Ravelry. Doing my own variation: one of the Ravelry participants added three seed stitch rows to control the roll down of the stockinette stitch - so, I followed along with that option and added my own cables (instead of the Owlie kind) that I used in neck warmers a few years ago. It is a simple 3/3 (slip three on cable needle, knit three, then knit from cable) cable with k2, p2 on sides making a 12 stitch pattern for a beginning of 96 stitches (actually CO 97, with one bind off when joining in the round). Since I leave Saturday for 12 days of fun in the sun with my sister and her husband, knitting can help during the flight layovers. My dear long-time friend, Judy, has another granddaughter on the way, scheduled for delivery on February 22nd, in Fairbanks, Alaska. This will make such a beautiful gift for newborn Ava. Unfinished... I am excited to make a matching cap, too.

A huge "thank you" to Dagmar for her lovely giveaway - it arrived with Sean (my mailman) today! I hibernated because of a blizzard outside - actually a lovely snow fall-type blizzard, as I sat by my window and opened the beautifully felted envelope. The tags are precious and I must keep them for now and hang them to look at. What a special treat! Hugs and many thanks, again. Karen

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Since recuperating somewhat from a fluke fall, I have been knitting while icing my injured leg. (How does anyone fall onto the wheels of a rolling chair anyway - well, it obviously turned upside down.) Finally found yarn that my youngest daughter likes, mainly because it isn't itchy... and, is the vibrant color she requires! Love it! And, from "Acorn to Oak" (one of the blogs at Vicki's GYB Party) I found a lovely "Ribbed Basket Weave Hand Towel" to knit; checked my supplies and this was the color with two skeins to make it the size required. I have decided that even the 2 oz skein of Sugar 'n Cream would suffice with a 10.5" x 10.5" hand towel - a size I personally like. So, now I must focus on doing a page spread in "Illuminated Pages" - the next Medieval Lacebook that arrived at my door last night at 7:15pm. Will post more about that later. I already have the smoked moose hide backed "illuminated page" with picot beading done.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Absolutely must pass this on because it is beyond awesome. Vicki has posted some of the contributions received for the Pink Scarf Project this coming October. You can read all about it by clicking on the photo below... which just happens to be a collage on her blog of my contribution and with it is a dedication I wrote. This is a cause that is so near and dear to my heart. Please take a "look see" if you can. Thanks, Karen

A sincere, heartfelt "thank you" to all of you for leaving such wonderful comments and compliments regarding my blog and for entering the drawing. I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude to those who are now followers, also; and I still have a few blogs to peruse in depth and more comments to make.

As a mixed media artist and perpetual life-long learner, I keep super busy in semi-retirement blending my passions of bookarts, beading and photography.The Alaska Blue Moose was named after my popular acrylic painting and is a place where I enjoy sharing inspiration with friends and family in the blogging community. Your constructive feedback is always welcome. My goal is to share the beauty of Alaska and my continuing artistic endeavors.